Lift device for counters and the like



June 27, 1967 c. w. MORSE v LIFT DEVICE FOR COUNTERS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1965 INVENTOR C RL w. MORSE June 27, 1967 c, w oflgg LIFT DEVICE FOR COUNTERS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1965 INVENTOR CARL W. MORSE United States Patent 4 3,327,996 LIFT DEVICE FOR COUNTERS AND THE LIKE Carl W. Morse, 4301 SW. 109th Court,

- Miami, Fla. 33165 Filed Nov. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 507,927 2 Claims. (Cl. 254-2) This invention relates to lift devices or jacks and is more particularly directed to a lift device for counters, display cases, cabinets and other similar articles.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a lift device for such bulky and heavy articles such as counters, display cases, cabinets without the necessity of removing the contents thereof and moving the. fixture without endangering the contents which may consist of 'cash register,glass merchandise and other fragile articles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide lift devices for bulky and heavy department store fixtures, such as counters and display cases, which devices are readily manipulated for lifting and rolling the fixtures to its new location most expeditiously and with little physical elfortl A further object of the present invention is to provide alift device for moving counters, .display cases, etc. which devices are simple in construction, easy to handle'and most elfective in preventing injury to the articles being moved. r

With these and other objects in view, the invention will bebes-t understood froma consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is notconfined to any strict conformity wit h the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified. so long as such changes or-modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. In the drawings:.

FIGURE, 1 is aside elevational view of a lift device for counters, display cases and the like constructed in accordance withmy invention. t

FIGURE 2 is a similar'view of the obverse side shown with ariser attachment placed inposition.

FIGURE 3 is an edge elevational view.

FIGURE 4 is a perspectiveview of four of my lift devices shown lifting a counter in'phantom.

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinalcross sectional view taken at the pump portion of my device.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary exploded view of the pedestal showing a rising attachment.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a guard member.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 refers generally to my lift device consisting of an elongated base or support member 11 extending horizontally of an L-shaped cross section and having a pair of floor engaging swivelled rollers 12 mounted at the end portions thereof. Secured to the midportion of the support member 11 is a shaft 13 which is welded at its lower end to the base member 11 and extends vertically. Telescopically mounted on the shaft 13 is a cylindrical member 14 which in combination with the shaft operates as a hydraulic pump as is explained in detail hereinafter. The lower end of the cylindrical member 14 has fastened thereon a sleeve 15 of enlarged diameter to form a shoulder or support for a lifting member L.

The lifting member L consists of a triangularly shaped main portion having a U-shaped foot portion F welded to the lower side of the main portion along its rear flange 17. The foot portion F is a channel member consisting 3,327,996 Patented June 27, 1967 of a web portion 19 that joins the rear flange 17 to a front flange 18 to form a recess 21 receiving the edge of a cabinet, counter or display case that is to be lifted by my lifting device 10. Mounted along the top edge of the front flange 18 is a plurality of sharpened projections 20 that secure themselves into the article being lifted to prevent any shifting of the article as the lifting device 10 is rolled along the floor. The lifting member L is fastened to the cylinder 14 by a collar-like clamp 22 welded to the upper portion of the lifting member L and fastened about the cylinder 14 by a handle 23 secured to a conventional locking member 24. r

The front flange 18 is provided with a centrally disposed slot 39 to receive a leg or foot portion to permit lifting a counter or cabinet that is provided with a foot portion at its mid-portion. v

In order to prevent the lifting member L from rotating with the cylinder 14 about the piston shaft 13, a slide member 25 extends downwardly of the body member 16 toward the foot member F. The glide member 25 is received by a guide bracket 26 that is secured to the foot member F so that as the lift member L rises above the support member 11, the slide member 25 slides upwardly in the guide bracket 26 and a slide block 27 welded to the rear surface of the rear flange 17 of the foot member F rises, in the guide bracket 26. If the lifting member L is lifted to such a height that the slide block 27 rises above the guide bracket 26, the lifting member L will be free to revolve about the shaft 13. In order to prevent this from taking place whenever the lifting member L has to be lifted to an inordinately high position, a riser R is used. The face of the slide member 25 is provided with a soft material 28 such as cloth, rubber, etc. which is cemented thereon to engage thecounter or cabinet being lifted and prevent same from being scratched or otherwise damaged by the lifting device 10.

The riser R consists of a foot membersubstantially identical in construction with the foot member F having a cabinet engaging recess 31 formed between flanges 32 and 33 joined by a web portion 34. The riser R is sup ported by depending posts 35 secured to the lower surface of the web portion 34 and by a pair of L shaped guide brackets 36 that engage the edges of the triangular body member 16. When in use, the riser R is positioned on the lifting member L with the posts 35 resting on the web portion .19 of the foot member F and the-guide brackets 36 engage the body member 16 of the lifting member L. The riser R is also provided with sharpened projections 37 to engage the article being lifted and a slot 38 in the rear flange 32 to permit the material 28 to extend into recess 31 of the riser R.

The lifting member L is lifted by a conventional hydraulic pump -P consisting of the cylinder 14 telescopically mounted over the piston 13 about which is a plurality of seal rings 39 to prevent leakage of oil or other hydraulic fluid past the chamber 40. At the top 42 of the cylinder 14 is a hydraulic fluid reservoir 41 having a filler plug 43 and a vent 44.

Connecting the hydraulic reservoir 41 and the chamber 40 is a compression chamber 45 with an inlet duct 46 formed in a valve plug 47 and an outlet duct 48 formed in a valve plug 49. The valve plug 47 is provided with a valve seat 50 for receiving a ball valve 51 which is held in seated position by a coil spring 52. The duct 48 communicates with an outlet duct 56 on the end of which is a valve seat 53 that receives a ball valve 54. The latter is held in seated position by a coil spring 55.

Within the compression chamber 45 is a piston 57 on the outer end of which there is pivotally mounted a link 58. A crank pump handle 59 pivoted by a pin 60 to an arm 61 is pivotally secured at its end 162 to the link 58.

Upon pivotal motion of the pump handle 59 about the pin 60, the piston 57 will reciprocate in the compression chamber 45. Hydraulic fluid will be suctioned through the duct 46 past the valve 51 and into the chamber 45 to fill the latter when the piston 57 slides outwardly of the chamber 45. When the piston 57 slides inwardly against the fluid in the chamber 45, the valve 54 will open against the spring pressure 55 and force it through the ducts 56 and 48 and into the chamber 40 forcing the cylinder 14 to slide upwardly of the piston rod 13 carrying with it the lifting member L. A finger 70 attached to the pump handle 59 limits the outward movement of the piston 57, while a ring seal prevents leakage of oil from the chamber 45.

To return the lifting member L back to its lowermost position, the hydraulic fluid in the chamber 40 is returned to the hydraulic reservoir 41 by means of a duct 62 which connects the two chambers 40 and 41. A valve 63 seals off the duct 62 when lifting a cabinet during the pumping action. When it is desired to drop the lifting member L, the handle -64 of the valve 63 is unthreaded to remove the valve '63 from the duct 62 and the weight of the cabinet, counter or the like will force the cylinder 14 to slide downwardly on the piston rod 13 forcing the hydraulic fluid to flow from the chamber 40 through the duct 62 to the hydraulic reservoir 41 to lower the lifting member L.

Since the weight of a counter and the like resting on the front flange 18 forces the upper portion of the lift device to swing toward the cabinet, means are provided to prevent the upper part of the lift device 10 from marring or defacing the surface of the cabinet consisting of a guard plate member 64 having a fabric or rubber material 65 cemented on its face, which engages the cabinet. The plate member '64 is held in position on the lift device 10 by means of a collar 66 welded on the rear surface of the upper end of the plate member 64 and a Y-shaped support 67 secured at the lower end. The collar 66 fits over the upper end 42 of the lifting member 10 resting on the arm 61 while the Y-shaped support 67 engages the cylinder 14 to maintain the plate member 64 in a vertical position.

As best shown by FIGURE 4, when it isdesired to move a cabinet or show case '68" having a recessed toe plate 69, the lifting devices 10 are rolled to their position alongside the cabinet 68. In this instance four lifting devices 10 are in use. For a short cabinet, only two such lifting devices 10' are used. The lifting device 10 is brought alongside the cabinet 68 with the foot member F adjacent the recessed toe plate 69. The pump handle 59 is then actuated causing lifting member L to rise as explained bereinabove and the projections 20 to engage the lower surface of the cabinet 68 and lift same. When all four of the lifting devices have lifted the cabinet 68 off the floor, the cabinet 68 can then be wheeled on the rollers' 12 to any desired location. Then, the valve handle 64 is actuated to release the fluid in the chamber 40. The weight of the cabinet. 68 will now lower the lifting members L until the cabinet '68 is resting on the floor. The lifting devices 10 are then removed from the cabinet 68.

Having disclosed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States'is:

1. A lift device for counters and the like comprising a support member, ground engaging rollers mounted on said support member, a rod mounted on said support member and extending upwardly therefrom, lifting means slidably mounted on said rod, a lifting member secured at one end to the lower portion of said lifting means with the other end positioned in proximity of said support member, said lifting member having afoot portion, guide means operatively connected to said lifting member preventing the rotational movement of said lifting member as said lifting member is lifted by said lifting means, and

a riser member removably mounted on said foot portion, said riser member comprising a second foot portion, pro"- jections mounted on said second foot portion for engaging the article to be lifted, a plurality of posts resting in said first named foot portion and having their upper ends secured to said second foot portion and means mounted on said riser member releasably engaging said lifting member.

2. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said lifting member comprises a substantially triangularly shaped plate member and said last named means comprises a pair of bracket members secured to said riser member and extending about edge portions of said plate member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 726,420 4/ 1903 Frazier 214-390 2,473,873 6/ 1949 Fosbender 254-2 X 2,548,806 4/ 1951 Montour 254-2 2,823,010 2/ 1958 Bzendell 254-2 3,010,592 11/ 1961- Chadwick 214-390 3,145,863 8/ 1964' 'Dunaske. 214-390 WILLIAM FEL'DMAN, Primary Examiner. MILTON S. MEHR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A LIFT DEVICE FOR COUNTERS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A SUPPORT MEMBER, GROUND ENGAGING ROLLERS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, A ROD MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, LIFTING MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID ROD, A LIFTING MEMBER SECURED AT ONE END TO THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID LIFTING MEANS WITH THE OTHER END POSITIONED IN PROXIMITY OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID LIFTING MEMBER HAVING A FOOT PORTION, GUIDE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID LIFTING MEMBER PREVENTING THE ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LIFTING MEMBER AS SAID LIFTING MEMBER IS LIFTED BY SAID LIFTING MEANS, AND A RISER MEMBER REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FOOT PORTION, SAID RISER MEMBER COMPRISING A SECOND FOOT PORTION, PROJECTIONS MOUNTED ON SAID SECOND FOOT PORTION FOR ENGAGING THE ARTICLE TO BE LIFTED, A PLURALITY OF POSTS RESTING IN SAID FIRST NAMED FOOT PORTION AND HAVING THEIR UPPER ENDS SECURED TO SAID SECOND FOOT PORTION AND MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID RISER MEMBER RELEASABLY ENGAGING SAID LIFTING MEMBER. 